About Us

Our Mission

Our mission is to perpetuate the independent agency system by promoting and encouraging insurance careers.

The Michigan Association of Insurance Agent’s (MAIA) Board of Directors established the Michigan Future initiative in 2000 to promote insurance as a career choice for young people. In 2001 the MAIA Board solidified their long-term commitment to meeting members’ needs by establishing the Michigan Future Foundation (MI Future). MI Future is a permanent, nonprofit, 501(c)3 foundation.

Recognizing the staffing crisis facing the insurance industry, and in particular, independent agencies, MI Future is working externally to educate the public about career opportunities offered by Michigan’s independent insurance agencies and internally by educating independent insurance agents about the potential pool of talent offered by higher education institutions. In conjunction with these efforts, MI Future is building a bridge between agencies and prospective employees.

History

The idea for an MAIA program devoted to drawing new people into the industry goes back to 1998 during a series of MAIA Agent-Company Meetings when several companies challenged MAIA to develop a farm system for recruiting new talent into the “graying” agency system.

In its first several years, a number of efforts were undertaken by the New Blood Task Force, including the organization of an annual Job Shadow day and an internship program. In 2001, the group was renamed MI Future Foundation and received its approval as a 501(c)3 educational foundation. Shortly thereafter it first reached out to community colleges.

The community college initiative gained momentum when the Foundation built upon its strong working relationship with Olivet College and Insurance Professor Carol Breed. At the time, Olivet offered the only four-year insurance degree program in the state. With the help of MAIA staff, Breed and others developed an outline for a one-year certificate and a two-year associate degree program to present to community colleges.